• The Cath Kidston Classic Colouring Book
    Cath Kidston - competition - homestyle - Mother's Day crafts

    Win 1 of 2 adult colouring books for Mother’s Day

    March 7, 2017 - By 

    Do you celebrate Mother’s Day? It’s coming up towards the end of the month on March 26th here in the UK. I always look forward to receiving a handmade card and little gift. I quite like it if I get a day off from cooking too, just someone else to take over the food preparation and the dishwasher is my idea of a perfect day. I’m not quite sure what we’re doing but I’m hoping there will be some time for a hot cup of tea and an hour with my favourite adult colouring book. There are some gorgeous books around…

  • large-paloma-dipped-macrame-plant-pot-holder-aqua-marine
    competition - homestyle - interiors

    Win a Macrame Plant Pot {a Mothers Day giveaway}

    March 1, 2017 - By 

    Spring is definitely in the air today. It may have just started raining where we live, but when I walked to the shops earlier today the sun was shining and I spotted so many daffodils and crocuses in bloom. Winter has gone on for far too long and I am ready to embrace Spring! With Spring comes Spring cleaning and there are some lovely new trends around if you’re looking to update your home. If you’re looking for value for money then look no further than dotcomgiftshop who have a range of wonderful pieces for the home this Spring. As…

  • Perfect home improvements for a London home
    homestyle - London

    Perfect home improvements for a London home

    February 27, 2017 - By 

    The other day one of my friends posted on Facebook how surprised she was that it took her four years to settle into her new home. Now, she moved from London to the South West, but I feel exactly the same just moving across London. It’s coming up to four years in our ‘new’ house and our home improvements show no signs of ending. Although we loved the vintage features of our previous house – read infested wooden floors and huge gaps between the floorboards – our modern house is so different. For a start it’s always warm; so quick…

  • Apple pancake recipe
    baking - homestyle - Pancake Day crafts - parenting

    Apple pancake recipe {with Pink Lady® apples}

    February 9, 2017 - By 

    As well as being a firm favourite in lunch boxes and after school, did you know that Pink Lady® apples make the perfect filling for pancakes this Pancake Day? We’re all about embracing the seasons here at the gingerbread house blog and were delighted to receive a Pink Lady® Pancake Day kit to get a head start. I just love pancakes all year round although we try to make them extra special for Pancake Day. Today I wanted to share a delicious recipe for apple pancakes. Did you know that Pink Lady® apples are packed with goodness – they are…

  • Mincemeat and marzipan loaf {a brilliant way to use up mincemeat}
    baking - Christmas - homestyle

    Mincemeat and marzipan loaf {a brilliant way to use up mincemeat}

    January 30, 2017 - By 

    We can’t be the only family who still has a freezer full of leftovers after Christmas. Yep, we still have some homemade sausage rolls and mince pies in the freezer! Not to mention all the boxes of chocolates… Every time I open the fridge I saw a massive jar of mincemeat which I was meaning to use up. We didn’t need any more mince pies but I knew it would go really well in a cake. Today I’m sharing my mincemeat and marzipan recipe which is perfect for using up leftover mincemeat. Mincemeat and marzipan loaf ingredients: 8ozs Self Raising…

  • Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial
    crafts - homestyle - Orla Kiely

    Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial

    January 26, 2017 - By 

    I’m a bit of a hoarder and this applies to envelopes, boxes and tissue paper – pretty much any packaging which comes through my letter box. I  had some gorgeous Orla Kiely tissue paper in my stash and came up with the simplest upcycle. I used: Orla Kiely tissue paper Mod Podge Glass flower jar Upcycled Orla Kiely flower vase tutorial: I cut my tissue paper to fit around my glass jar. Then I used Mod Podge painted directly to the glass jar. I carefully applied my tissue paper and left it to dry. I’ve already filled my glass jar…

  • Apple and Gingerbread crumble
    baking - gingerbread - homestyle

    My Apple and Gingerbread crumble recipe

    January 17, 2017 - By 

    I don’t often share my recipes with you but I recently made something which is definitely worth sharing. Winter is the perfect time for making tasty treats in the kitchen. Last Autumn I came away from my father in law with two huge bags of cooking apples. His garden is full of fruit trees but everything was falling and rotting on the ground. Sadly we could only fit two bags of fruit in our car (thanks to those pesky kids!) but we prepared the fruit and froze it to see us through the winter months. We’ve had quite a few…

  • Hygge in a box
    homestyle - subscription box

    Hygge in a box

    January 11, 2017 - By 

    Last month saw me treat myself with 3 subscription boxes, a little like early Christmas presents to myself. You can see my reviews of the Lucky Dip Club Box and Embellish Box. I came across the Hygge in a Box from the Original Hygge Box Company and decided to try one out too. Have you heard of the Danish concept of hygge, pronounced hoo-ga?  There is no direct translation but it is often taken to mean cosiness through the winter months. Over the past few years it’s been adapted by us Brits, and why not? Our winter months can often…

  • Christmas Birds Lucky Dip Club Box
    homestyle - subscription box

    Lucky Dip Club December unboxing

    January 8, 2017 - By 

    I’m not sure why I was feeling so flush last month but I was. So December saw not one, not two, but three subscription boxes arriving on my doorstep. I love the quirky Lucky Dip Club box so when I heard it was the penultimate one I snapped it up. December was a crazy month so I didn’t really need one or any subscription boxes. I actually only opened this after Christmas when the contents didn’t really make sense for January! The theme for December was Christmas Birds. The Lucky Dip Club Box is always very generously packed with fun things.…